Inside the Institute

Luscious Wines for Grilled Fish

On a recent sweltering evening, I wanted
something quick and easy for dinner. Grilling
was a no-brainer, but I didn't feel like eating a heavy burger or steak. I
picked up some salmon burgers at my local fish store and my meal was ready in
no time. Next decision: what wine to
drink?

While steak on the grill usually calls for
big full-flavored red (think cabernet or zinfandel), grilled seafood can be
paired with a wide variety of wines. If you need a little help deciding which to serve, consider the type of food and the
accompanying sauce/seasonings.

some sweet and/or spicy shrimp, consider my
go-to summer wine, Riesling, especially when dealing with either sweet or
spicy foods. Many rieslings are off-dry (a good way to tell if it doesn't say on
the label: look for an alcohol content below 12%) but still high enough in
acidity to be refreshing.

salmon burgers or fillets, a slightly chilled Beaujolais (a red wine
made from the Gamay grape) is a perfect summer red—fruity, lightweight and equally
terrific with salmon or chicken. Another
fun option: a fizzy Italian red called Lambrusco

Two other super-versatile choices:

sparkling wines - Champagne is the ultimate
in bubbly, but inexpensive cavas from Spain or proseccos from Italy are just as
food-friendly

dry rosés - the ultimate hot-weather wine.
Even within the rosé category there's a range of styles, from light and
refreshing to robust and red-wine-like.

So next time you can't stand the heat, grill
up your favorite salmon or shrimp and grab a glass of something
thirst-quenching for a great, cool, summer meal. Want to see how we test our grilled recipes inside a 44-story office building? Come take a tour of the GHRI.

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